Overactive bladder (OAB) is a considerable health and economic burden, which causes those who suffer from it distress and poor quality of life (QOL). It has a clinical spectrum from mild minimally bothersome urgency to severe daytime and night-time frequency, urgency, and refractory urgency incontinence. Its evaluation can be sensitive, but is important, as these symptoms may be masking a more sinister pathology, which must be excluded. However, basic treatment measures that can be implemented in a primary care setting can have a significant impact on improving the QOL. If these are unsuccessful, a referral for specialist care is then appropriate as more advanced treatment options can be offered in this setting.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AbramsP.CardozoL.FallM.GriffithsD.RosierP.UlmstenU.WeinA. (2002). The standardisation of terminology of lower urinary tract function: report from the International Standardisation sub-Committee Continence Society. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 21 (2): 167–178. doi: 10.1002/nau.10052.
2.
AnderssonK.E. (2004). Antimuscarinics for treatment of overactive bladder. Lancet Neurology, 3 (1): 46–53. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(03)00622-7.
3.
BrazzelliM.MurrayA.FraserC. (2006). Efficacy and safety of sacral nerve stimulation for urinary urge incontinence: a systematic review. Journal of Urology, 175 (3 Pt 1): 835–841. doi: 10.1016/S0022-5347 (05)00326-5.
4.
DmochowskiR.ChappleC.NittiVW.ChancellorM.EveraertK.ThompsonC.Haag-MolkentellerC. (2010). Efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA for idiopathic overactive bladder: a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized, dose ranging trial. Journal of Urology, 184 (6), 2416–2422. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2010.08.021.
5.
FoonR.DrakeM.J. (2010). The overactive bladder. Therapeutics and Advances in Urology, 2 (4), 147–155. doi: 10.1177/1756287210373757.
6.
Hay-SmithE.J.DumoulinC. (2010). Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD005654. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005654.pub2.
7.
HerbisonG.P.ArnoldE.P. (2009). Sacral neuromodulation with implanted devices for urinary storage and voiding dysfunction in adults. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD004202. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004202.pub2.
8.
IrwinD.E.MilsomI.KoppZ.AbramsP.ArtibaniW.HerschornS. (2009). Prevalence, severity, and symptom bother of lower urinary tract symptoms among men in the EPIC study: impact of overactive bladder. European Urology, 56 (1): 14–20. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2009.02.026.
9.
LohsiriwatS.HirunsaiM.ChaiyaprasithiB. (2011). Effect of caffeine on bladder function in patients with overactive bladder symptoms. Urology Annals, 3 (1): 14–18. doi: 10.4103/0974-7796.75862.
10.
NovaraG.GalfanoA.SeccoS.D'EliaC.CavalleriS.FicarraV.ArtibaniW. (2008). A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with antimuscarinic drugs for overactive bladder. European Urology, 54 (4): 740–763. doi: 10.1016/j.eururo. 2008.06.08.
11.
OuslanderJ.G. (2004). Management of overactive bladder. New England Journal of Medicine, 350 (8): 786–799.
